Owning a horse that has been through kissing spine treatment/rehab is a really unique and unfortunately difficult part of horse ownership. 

Having been through it myself as a horse owner (in addition to working with many clients horses), and through a lengthy rehab process with my horse, I am fully aware of all of the ups and downs of the process, the changes that need to be made, and the emotional toll it can take on the owner. 

The reality with owning a horse that has had kissing...

In my work as an Equine Physio & Rehabilitation Specialist, I look at the whole horse as well as the injury site in terms of rehabilitation. I am also qualified as a Spinal Manipulation Therapist so adding all of my skills and experience in together gives me quite a unique view of horses, that I like to share with horse owners to help them understand their horses better. 

So is 'kissing spine' a whole horse issue? My educated, experienced opinion...YES undoubtedly. And for lots of...

The long term management part of kissing spine with horses is a lot about mindset, and about being adaptable to the individual horse...and working out an ongoing exercise, rehab and management system for your horse. NOT going back to 'normal' and assuming the issue has gone away...is hasn't. 

As an equine physio, rehab specialist and spinal therapist, I went through the 'kissing spine' journey with my own horse Azuro, almost 5 years ago. And the learning that I went through at that time...

The multifidus muscles in the horses spine are small muscles, but of HUGE importance to the horses back health. 

I talk about them a lot in my groups, and when I'm talking to clients about Kissing Spine prevention...I love that my clients ask me about this, as it means that all of the blogs and posts and talks that I put out are reaching horse owners that want to do the very best for their horses! 

So I wanted to explain about the multifidus muscles, what they are, why they are...

'Kissing Spine' in horses, or 'over-riding dorsal spinous processes' is a painful condition in horses, with varying causes, we now have varying treatment options, and we also now have lots of information and help available to assist the rehabilitation process...this is what I spend a lot of time doing now within my practice. 

There has now been scientific work done and a gene has been discovered, which would create a more severe grade of 'kissing spine' in affected horses. To read more...

I have been working with horses with Kissing Spine for a number of years, and still continue to learn more and more about it, especially as new research is done into various parts of the condition and the rehab process. 

For me, looking at the evolution of the horse, the anatomy of the spine, and considering gravity, the negative effects of domestication, and rushed breaking / training processes...it seems that Kissing Spine is a possibility for all horses. 

So if it's a possibility...

Last weeks Blog was about the anatomy of Kissing Spine, this week I'm talking about Kissing Spine Rehabilitation, and next week it's Prevention strategies. 

The rehabilitation process for Kissing Spine is the larger part of the entire process. What I mean by this is that the treatment that the horse receives is the initial ‘doorway’ to enable your rehabilitation process. I view it as treatment being Step 1, and rehabilitation being Steps 2 - 100!

The most important point to...

This month I am writing a series of Kissing Spine articles, because it's a specialist area of my work, and I want to share more about it so that more horse owners can understand what is potentially happening with their horse and ask more questions, maybe even get diagnosed and treated, so that we can all increase horse welfare and improve their quality of life. 

This weeks blog is around the anatomy of what is actually happening in the horses spine when 'Kissing Spine' is...

'Kissing Spine' is a condition with horses that is much better known and diagnosed/treated now than it was 10 years ago. You may have heard about it, or experienced it with your horses. 

In my work as a Spinal Manipulation Therapist and Physiotherapist/Rehabilitation Specialist I have worked extensively with horses with Kissing Spine, alongside vets, during the rehabilitation process, so have gained a lot of experience with HOW to rehabilitate this condition, and have the benefit of...

As horses are not evolved or designed very well for us to ride them, unfortunately they do suffer with back problems - we sit on the lowest part of the back and they are not always strong enough to carry the weight of the saddle and rider. Back problems can range from sore muscles or tightness, restricted joints, to bones touching in the spine which is extremely painful for them (this is 'Kissing Spine'). 

Some horses show signs of back pain very clearly, while others just carry on with...